Waiheke Island is the second-largest island in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,847 |
16 Facts About Waiheke Island
2.
Sea levels began to rise 7,000 years ago, after which Waiheke became an island separated from the rest of New Zealand.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,848 |
3.
Much of eastern Waiheke island is the remains of a Miocene volcano of the Kiwitahi Group, which erupted approximately 15 million years ago.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,849 |
4.
The forests on the western side of Waiheke Island were likely heavily damaged in the 14th century eruptions of Rangitoto Island.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,850 |
5.
Waiheke Island has historically been settled by various tribes, especially the Marutuahu collective tribes of Ngati Maru and Ngati Paoa.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,851 |
6.
Waiheke Island was the site of many battles between Ngati Paoa and Ngapuhi from the Bay of Islands, up until the late 18th century.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,852 |
7.
Waiheke Island was briefly depopulated during the Musket Wars, when Ngati Paoa and other Tamaki Maori sought refuge in areas such as the Waikato.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,853 |
8.
In 1999 Waiheke Island's community board voted Waiheke Island as a "genetic engineering free zone", but this is a matter of principle rather than fact, as only national government controls exist over genetically engineered foods and grains.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,854 |
9.
Waiheke Island has a resident population of 9,790 people with most living close to the western end, or near the isthmus between Huruhi Bay and Oneroa Bay, which at its narrowest is only 600 metres wide.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,855 |
10.
Waiheke Island is a popular holiday spot, and during the main summer season, especially around Christmas and Easter, its population increases substantially due to the number of holiday homes being rented out, corporate functions and dance parties at vineyards and restaurants, the Wine Festival and the Jazz Festival and weekend trippers from around the country and the world.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,856 |
11.
Waiheke Island is part of the territorial authority of Auckland Council.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,857 |
12.
Waiheke Island's lifestyle is largely influenced by the fact that it is surrounded by water – there are a number of beaches mentioned above, that are popular for a wide range of activities such as kite surfing, kayaking, stand-up-paddle boarding, boating, swimming and other typical beach pursuits.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,858 |
13.
Waiheke Island has a community-run cinema, a theatre that hosts a number of regular musicians, performances and local productions, and a library that was rebuilt in 2014 at the cost of $6 million.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,859 |
14.
Waiheke Island has a reliable and fully timetabled public bus service which is operated by Waiheke Island Bus Company, and overseen by Auckland Transport.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,860 |
15.
Gateway to Waiheke Island, where the main pedestrian ferry lands over one million passengers per year, is a valley and harbour called Matiatia.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,861 |
16.
Wines produced on Waiheke are relatively expensive because of the limited size of many of the island's vineyards.
| FactSnippet No. 2,094,862 |